Nairobi, Kenya:
On a knife-edge

Tourism, digital technology development, services, business, international organisations... Kenya's capital has gradually established itself as southern Africa's essential hub. Nicknamed Silicon Savannah, the city is home to a large-scale technological ecosystem (largely dependent on foreign investment), driven by a connected youth, cutting-edge incubators (iHUB, Nailab), and the presence of global giants like Google, Microsoft, and Visa. This dynamism is bolstered by the Konza Technopolis project, a digital megalopolis in the making, located some 50 kilometres away. The city attracts start-ups, investors and pan-African talent, and is establishing itself as a model of digital development serving key sectors such as finance, agriculture and health. 

Nairobi (which means ‘fresh waters’ or ‘renewal’ in Masai) is now more than just a competitor to Johannesburg. It's a major hub with enormous appeal for its way of life, its national park inside the city limits, its museums, its cultural scene, its high-quality hotels and restaurants, and its connectivity. Despite the ongoing difficulties faced by Kenya Airways, the city is connected to more than 50 countries in Africa and around the world via Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. 

This effervescence contrasts with a tense security and political climate. The risk of terrorism cannot be ruled out. Violent spatial inequalities – particularly in the township of Kibera, one of the largest slums on the continent – fuel structural crime. They also highlight the general malaise within Kenyan society. In late June 2025, violent riots shook the capital, killing at least 16 people, according to Amnesty International. 

The escalation was triggered by the anniversary of the (already deadly) June 2024 protests and the anger of young people over police brutality, the rising cost of living, corruption and feelings of exclusion – a movement largely driven by Gen Z via social media. With its nearly 6 million inhabitants, Nairobi seems to be on a knife-edge, a contradictory, ambitious megalopolis on the brink of a breakdown.